Developing a business plan and pitching it isn't for the faint of heart. It also isn't usually for teenagers.
But that's what's happening at a Cambridge based after-school program called The Possible Project. It's teaching young people how to be their own bosses.
Rendy Flerime and Jephte Giuillaume are seniors in high school, but they’re also entrepreneurs.
The pair has developed a t-shirt business based on their theme of "lit," which stands for "Life is True."
"Before The Possible Project, I never really thought about going into business, but after attending The Possible Project, it's totally changed that," said Giuillaume.
Changing and opening young minds is the goal of The Possible Project. As they develop real businesses, students learn how to crunch the numbers and perfect the pitch.
"It really gets down to the characteristics of an entrepreneur. It’s about resilience, perseverance, confidence and courage," explained Kelsey Katahira, the program's entrepreneurship education manager.
The participants also learn skills they can use throughout life, added Katahira. “It can teach them to how to sell themselves, as a personal brand, their own products, and it can just help them get to know, before it happens, what to expect in college and their careers as well.”
Real business professionals - like Marian Nakada from Johnson & Johnson - volunteer their time to help guide the startup businesses.
"Oh, it's huge! I think what the programming here does, which is very sophisticated, almost gives them what you learn in business school," Nakada explained.
Jayla Belcher is another student who has used these resources to start a business. It’s called "PBJ" - Puzzles by Jayla. Her newest creation is a line of cookie cutters she created on a 3D printer.
Belcher, a high school senior, believes The Possible Project is helping set up for a successful future.
"When you get out there in the real world, you are on your own," Belcher said. "It’s good to learn it now, so that when you get out there, you won't be embarrassing yourself, and you already have the mind frame to know what to do."
Flerime hopes his success can send a positive message to other kids who haven’t been exposed to the world of business.
"I grew up in a community where people feel like they may be worthless. They may feel like they don't have any type of path in the future. I want people to understand that there are these types of opportunities for people and to spread that positivity," Flerime said.
He intends to do that, even it is one t-shirt at a time.
On December 14th, The Possible project will hold its annual Winter Marketplace at its site in Cambridge.
Many of the students' products will be available for sale - just in time for the holidays.
You can learn more about The Possible Project here.